I run to the stables. Erlendur is there, bringing the horses in for the night. He looks up as he hears me approach and sneers a bit. I recall Elof's words. But Erlendur has no reason to be upset that Hakon proposed to me.

"Jorunn is gone!" I tell him.

Erlendur stares at me. "What do you mean 'gone'?"

"She's run off after Hakon! I have to go after her!"

Erlendur scoffs. "Are you jealous? Or are you desperate to be with your betrothed?"

I have never hit anyone in my life, but at this moment, I feel I could strike him. "I am not jealous of my sister! And Hakon is not my betrothed! If you're bothered, I can go alone".

Erlendur sighs. He sounds annoyed. "It's getting late. It will be too dangerous for you. I'll go after her".

"I'm coming with you".

"No. If anything happens to you—".

It is my turn to scoff. "Please don't say you'll never forgive yourself".

"Actually, I was going to say your father would kill me".

I shrug and move to gather up a saddle. "That's a risk we'll have to take. I can always go by myself…"

Erlendur turns to me from putting the last horse in his stall. "You can't run off on your own". His voice is harsh.

I turn to him and try to fight the dread and anxiousness building within me. "My sister's reputation—maybe even her life—is at stake. I have to go after her".

Erlendur's voice softens from the harsh tone he used a moment ago. "And what of your own reputation? Does that not worry you?"

"Yes, but if risking it means keeping my sister safe," I take a breath, "then I'll do it".

Erlendur is quite for a moment. He stares at me with an unreadable expression.

Finally, he speaks. "I'll get the horses saddled. Which ones should we take?"

I point to a tall gray stallion. "You can ride Borg".

Erlendur snorts. I realize he is laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"It's just…nothing".

I huff and hurry to the house to gather supplies. I move quietly so as not to draw attention from Asta or my father. I could always tell my father that Jorunn had run off, but he has just returned from the raid the day before. If Erlendur and I can find Jorunn and get her back before he realizes how long she's been gone, then that's one less thing he has to worry over.

I fill a pack with some loaves of bread and strips of salted meat. I grab two leather water bottles to fill and cloaks for each of us.

I make my way back to the barn, carrying the pack and bottles, with the cloaks over my arm. Erlendur has my dark brown mare saddled. She nickers at my approach. I stop a moment to stroke her soft nose, then stash the pack behind her saddle.

Erlendur tightens Borg's saddle. "Get his bridle. I'll be right back". He hurries from the barn.

I wonder what Erlendur possibly have to leave for. I slip Borg's bridle on his head and pet the horses while I wait.

Erlendur returns a moment later, his sword belted around his waist. He notices me eying it. "Just in case," he says.

I nod, though I hope there will be no reason to need it.

We lead the horses as quietly as we can out of the barn and through the yard. We lead them until we are a few yards from the house, before mounting. I glance back over my shoulder. I cannot see anyone in the darkening yard.

"Let's go," Erlendur whispers.

We kick our horses forward and head for the woods.

"Do you know where Hakon's home is?" Erlendur asks after a few moments.

"I've never been there. I know it is north of us".

Erlendur twists in the saddle to stare at me. There is just enough light for me to make out his face. "You mean to tell me we're riding north to someplace, and you don't know where it is? We're in southwestern Norway. There's a lot north of us!"

"I told you, I've never been there! But I know it's not that far, a day or two. I'm sure we can find it".

We ride on in silence. I do not know how much time passes as we travel through the woods. We cross the stream where Erlendur was found, and keep going north. I feel we have been riding forever.

Eventually, the woods become so dark it is difficult to see to steer the horses. Erlendur directs Borg into a small grove off of the path and dismounts. I follow him.

"We can rest here a bit. It's too dark to ride right now".

I am impatient to reach my sister. She has had plenty of time ahead of us. But I know Erlendur is right. The horses cannot continue without rest. And I am tired too.

We tend to the horses, allowing them to drink from a small stream, loosening the saddle girths and removing the bits so they can graze and rest in comfort. Erlendur and I each lie down and wrap ourselves in our cloaks to sleep. I am sure to lay a few feet away from him.

I awaken a few hours later to see early morning light flooding the grove. There is a moaning noise behind me.

Erlendur is tossing and turning restlessly on the ground. He moans again, as if in pain, and rolls over so his back is to me. He looks as if he's having a nightmare.

"Erlendur!" I call quietly. He does not answer. I raise my voice. "Erlendur!"

Erlendur jerks and I can tell he is awake now. Without even looking at me, he gets up, and stalks off into the trees.

I get up and wash my face in the stream. I check the horses and rummage through the pack for the food I packed last night.

I assume Erlendur had gone off to relieve himself. He is gone for a while though. I am starting to worry as I gnaw on some strips of meat and bread. Perhaps I should go look for him.

I have barely had this thought before Erlendur returns. He looks pale in the early morning light.

"Good morning", I say, trying to sound cheerful. I'm sure he knows I overheard his moaning.

Erlendur makes a noise of acknowledgement, but doesn't look in my direction. He goes to the stream and washes his hands and face.

We are both quiet as Erlendur grabs some food from the pack and we eat. Erlendur scarfs down his food. He says something through a mouthful of bread.

"What?"

Erlendur swallows. "I said, 'I found another trail.' It looks to be well-used, and there are tracks—hoof prints—on it, leading north. They look to be only a day or two old".

My heart leaps. "It must be Jorunn!"

We hurriedly finish our meal, and saddle the horses. I follow Erlendur through the woods to the trail. Just as he said, there are tracks on it.

We ride on; Erlendur scanning the trail and woods around us. I want to ask Erlendur about this morning—if he had, in fact, had a nightmare—but I decide not to. I suspect if Erlendur wants to bring it up he will; I've learned pressing him about his personal self does nothing but close him up.

"So why does Hakon want you so much?" Erlendur breaks the silence.

I flush, annoyed by this remark. "You think I'm not good enough?"

Erlendur scowls. "That wasn't what I was asking. I just want to know why he wants you".

Clearly Erlendur does not consider himself exempt from asking about other people's lives. I decide to explain the feud to him, as Asta had told it me. I get to the part about Hakon arriving at the farm, and how uncomfortable he made me feel, always watching me. When I explain Hakon's first proposal, and his arrogance, Erlendur's hands tighten on the reins so much Borg jerks his head and tries to stop. Erlendur relaxes his grip and urges the horse on, though his knuckles are still white.

"So he's doing all of this to get some land?" Erlendur scoffs in disgust.

"I don't know his reasoning. That's just what my father and I suspect".

"If he can't have you…he may just try to kill your whole family and take it by force". Erlendur says quietly.

My stomach clenches in fear. As if sensing my worry, my horse shakes her mane and snorts.

I don't want to talk about Hakon anymore. I decide it's time to change the subject.

"So, what was so funny about Borg's name? You laughed at him earlier". I reach over to ruffle the stallion's dark mane.

A faint smile touches Erlendur's lips. "I knew a man named Borg. He's dead now".

I fail to see how this is funny. Quietly, I dare to ask, "Is everyone you knew dead?"

Erlendur is silent and his smile fades. "I wish", he mutters.

Our conversation ceases after that. We travel steadily for the rest of the day. By that evening a large farm comes into our view. A hall, twice as long as my father's longhouse, dominates the horizon. Beyond it are several other buildings, which I guess to be stables and outbuildings. The large yard is fenced, and massive hunting dogs ramble about it. I can see the evening sun shining off a lake behind the hall and the mountains frame the whole farm. It would be a stunningly beautiful place, were it not for the person who owned it.

Erlendur lets out a soft whistle when he sees it; I nudge him in the side with my elbow.

"It's almost fit for an Earl". He says. "Is Hakon not a farmer too?

I scoff. "Landowner, I would say. You think he works the land himself?"

We tie the horses to some trees where they hopefully won't be seen and creep forward a few yards. Crouching in some bushes outside the fence, we discuss how to get in.

"We could just disguise ourselves as travelers," I say. "Ask for hospitality?"

Erlendur shakes his head. "You would be recognized, surely".

"We'll do you have any suggestions?" I argue. "Unless you're so great a warrior you can take on all of his men at once, we can't just barge in!"

"I know that!" Erlendur snarls back. "We just—", he stops and listens to something.

I don't hear anything and open my mouth to speak. Erlendur places one hand over my mouth and puts the other to his sword hilt.

"Well, what do we have here?" The voice comes from over our heads. A richly dressed man is standing over us. He has a sword on his belt. There are a few other men with him; two carry torches, and another is holding the leash of a large hunting dog. The animal strains at its lead. I lean away, fearful of that massive fang-filled jaw.

"Looks like we have some intruders!" Rough hands grab us and drag us to our feet. Erlendur snarls and wrenches one arm free and starts to draw his sword…

A few of the men rush forward with weapons draw, and point them at Erlendur's throat. "This one wants a bit of trouble" one of the men says. "Maybe we should do away with him?"

"No!" I cry. I try to move forward as if I could somehow protect Erlendur. Erlendur steps to the side so he is in between me and the other men, his sword pointed at the others.

"Put the weapons away, all of you!" The man in front speaks. "Hakon can deal with them. I was with him in the south. I recognize this girl".

His men sheath their weapons, reluctantly. He points to Erlendur's sword. "Hand that over. You can have it back later, if Hakon agrees".

Erlendur slowly lowers his blade, but does not sheath it.

"Erlendur," I whisper. "Please. It's not worth getting killed over".

After what seems like an eternity, Erlendur puts his sword back in its scabbard and hands the weapon over. It clearly pains him to do so.

We are being lead through the gate and towards the hall. My legs are quivering from fear and exhaustion after our long ride. I am terrified of what Hakon will do to us. I pray my stubbornness has not led us to our deaths.

I try to keep my head up, and my back straight. No matter what Hakon has in store for us, I don't want to go to it looking like a coward, no matter how afraid I am.

My look of courage crumbles a bit as I trip halfway through the yard. I stumble, and almost hit the ground, but Erlendur catches my arm. I nod my thanks, my throat too dry to speak. Erlendur does not let go of my arm though. He finally releases me at the door. I feel his grasp even after he's let go; unlike Hakon's, which made me ache in pain, Erlendur's touch just makes me tingle.

We are brought into the hall. It is a good sized building, even bigger than my father's longhouse. Inside, it is dark and smoky; the only light comes from the center hearth and a few candles placed along the tables. We move down to the end of the hall. Servants, nearly all young women around my age, glance at us but quickly return to their work.

At the back of the hall is another room with its own small hearth. Tapestries decorate and insulate the walls, but they, and the oak rafters that keep up the roof, are stained with smoke. A long table with benches and stools is near the hearth.

At the center of the table is Hakon, drinking deeply from a silver goblet. Jorunn—I am both relieved and furious to see—sits at his side. She is staring at him adoringly, leaning off of her stool to get close to him. She is wearing a red dress of fine wool I know doesn't belong to her.

There are two other women at the table. One sits on Hakon's other side. She is an older woman, almost as old as my father, I would guess. She wears a dark blue dress and is draped in glass beads and silver jewelry. Her blond hair, so pale with age it is nearly white, is piled neatly on her head. Something about her face is similar to Hakon's. I suspect this is his mother.

Next to her is another woman, a little older than I. She is beautiful, enough to rival Jorunn. I feel conscious of my windblown hair and travel-worn clothes. The woman wears a dress that seems to be made of gold, the thread shines so brightly in the firelight. Jewels flash at her earlobes and wrists. Her eyes are lined with kohl. Her hair is light brown, and flows loosely over her shoulders, held in place by a gold headdress.

Movement near the end of the table catches my eye and I see a small boy, perhaps five or six, watching us. He has the same coloring as Hakon. A slave girl stands behind the gold-clad woman, holding a bundle I am certain is a babe.

Jorunn notices us first. "Brynja!" she squeals. "Sister, have you come to see me?"

"I've come to take you home!" I reply.

By now, Hakon has noticed us and he laughs. "Did you change your mind, Brynja? I always have room for another woman". He grins at me, but the smile does not reach his eyes. They gleam in the firelight with the same wolfish glare he gave me when we first met.

I suppress a shudder and stare back at him with as much courage and dignity as I can muster. The hall has grown silent now, save for the snap of twigs in the hearth.

"I have come for my sister". I gesture to myself and Erlendur, who has been silent the whole time. "We have come to bring her home where she belongs".

Hakon ignores my words. He gestures to the women next to him. "This is my mother, Yngvild. And that is Asgerd". He points to the gold woman.

"Please sit with us" Hakon speaks as if we were all friends. "There is fresh meat and ale. Surely you are hungry after your—urgent—journey". He smirks and there is some laughter around the room. I don't understand what is so funny.

Erlendur and I sit cautiously across the table. Servants place platters of roasted meat and vegetables with wheat bread in front of us. Ale is poured all around.

I am starving, and the last bit of meat and bread we ate seems so long ago. The food looks and smells delicious, but I cannot bring myself to eat it. It is pride that makes me refuse the hospitality of my enemy. I notice Erlendur eyeing the food as well, but not touching it.

Hakon notices our reluctance. "It is perfectly good food, I assure you. And it is not poisoned, if that worries you". To prove his point, he takes a bit of food off each plate and eats it. "See?"

Hospitality is expected whenever travelers come to one's door, and Hakon has been decent enough to provide us with food, even after catching us on his land. But I still cannot bring myself to take a bite.

"You are a rude girl" Yngvild speaks. I feel my jaw drop and turn to stare at her.

"My son has offered you good food from his own stores and you turn your nose up at it. You and him," here she jerks her hand at Erlendur and curls her lip, "were caught sneaking on our land. We ought to have you punished".

"Your son stole a girl away from her father's home" Erlendur speaks for the first time since we entered.

"Come now", Hakon says. "I want no more feuds with your family. Brynja, my offer of marriage was made in good faith, to weave peace between our families, not to destroy them. But you refused me. You could have been mistress of this". He gestures around the hall. "Instead, your sister is happy to take your place".

Jorunn tosses her head and smiles at me.

I cannot recall ever feeling such anger. Anger at Hakon for thinking we would believe him and give him our land, anger at Jorunn for being so foolish and betraying her family, anger at myself for feeling as if this were my entire fault.

I push against the rage and speak as evenly as I can. "Hakon, I never have, nor ever will, desire to be your wife. And I will not let you seduce my sister into your scheme—".

"I have already seduced your sister. She made a nice addition to by bed". Hakon's smirk deepens.

A deathly silence settles over the room again. I stare at Hakon a moment, then turn to Jorunn. The triumph that shone on her face before has gone. Her face has crumpled slightly, her smile is shaky.

The gold woman, Asgerd, breaks the silence. "Your sister is welcome here. I speak from experience; she will be well cared for". She smiles at Hakon and Jorunn.

"You mean she'll be cared for so long as she's a whore for him?" Erlendur sneers. He glares at Asgerd. "Just as you are a whore, I'm sure. And what happens when he grows tired of you?"

Neither Asgerd nor Jorunn answer. Erlendur looks at my sister. "He cares nothing for you, no matter what lies he's said. I know of men like him. He'll say anything to get a woman in his bed, to do as he wants, but he won't care for her. He'll tire of you soon enough and replace you just as quickly as he got you".

I stiffen in anger at my sister being called something so foul. I turn to Erlendur. "Watch your mouth! That is still my sister" I whisper furiously. I do not know where this courage to speak up, this sudden feistiness, came from; it must be all my anger driving me.

Erlendur stares at me with an unreadable expression. I cannot tell if he is angry or amused. His blue eyes bore into mine without blinking, and my confidence wavers a bit.

"I did not come here to argue with you, Brynja" he says slowly.

Erlendur turns to Hakon. "Thank you for the food. But we are leaving. And we are taking your addition with us".

"No!" Hakon and Jorunn both speak at once.

"I'm staying here! Someone actually cares about me here!" Jorunn cries, tears springing to her eyes.

My anger is slowly subsiding, and my heart aches for my sister. "There are plenty of people who care about you at home" I say quietly.

Jorunn covers her face and starts to cry. I glance at Erlendur, but he does not look at me. His face is set in its usual unreadable mask.

Hakon stands and Erlendur is quick to do the same. "I've already had the girl's virginity and I'll have the rest of her too!" Hakon shouts. He opens his mouth to say more, but is cut off as Erlendur's fist drives into his face. The women on Hakon's side of the table all scream.

Hakon staggers back, blood gushing from his nose and busted lip. He takes a moment to regain his footing and spits blood into the hearth.

He glares at us in hatred. "Go with them then" he spits at Jorunn.

My sister, who moved forward to help him, is taken aback. She steps away as blood spews from his mouth. "But…" more tears fill her eyes.

Hakon turns to Erlendur. "This is far from over".

Erlendur meets the fiery gaze with so much calm I am impressed. "I am aware this is only just beginning. And I look forward to ending it". Without another word, his picks up his cloak and moves for the door. I grab Jorunn's hand and drag her along. She weeps as she follows behind me. Erlendur snatches his sword back from a man near the door with a snarl on his face.

No words are spoken as we mount our horses and head in the direction of home. When we are out of sight of the hall and moving through the woods, I turn to my sister. "Are you alright?"

She sniffs, but makes no other answer.

"Did he, I mean, did you really…give yourself to him?" I ask cautiously. I know Jorunn can be reckless, but I cannot believe she would risk her whole reputation and marriage prospects. She must have been convinced Hakon would marry her.

Another sniff is the only answer I receive. I want to speak to Erlendur, but he is still seething. He is watching everywhere around us, as if certain Hakon's men will leap out at any moment.

I remain silent as we ride home.